Sam’s Point Preserve water bars

Our crew did have an assignment to rehabilitate a section of the Verkeerderkill Falls Trail near Sam’s Point but due to a massive fire, and park closure, we postponed that assignment until the fall. After the fire was put out the Minnewaska State Park Preserve sought help from the New York New JerseyTrail Conference to build water bars in the Sams Point Preserve area. Several members of the Long Distance Trails Crew and the Hudson Nor’westers Trail Crew got together and along with the local ranger Drew and his assistants, Jesse and Ben, installing water bars on a steep fire break. The fire break was made as an access road or a location where a back fire could be started if needed. Fortunately the fire never reached this far. The fire break now needed waterbars in order to stop erosion from even getting started. The waterbars had to be constructed in a way that once in place the water bar could be driven over by a forestry vehicle when necessary. At 8:45 am the crew members and park staff met at the Sam’s Point Preserve visitors center to meet and discuss what the park hoped we could get accomplish today. Fifteen water bars would be a great day. We drove our truck as close as we could to the worksite then hiked the rest of the way in. Drew was able to use an ATV to help transport the generator and all of the heavy tools we would be needing to the fire break. He also used the ATV to pull logs out of the woods and along the fire-break to where they were needed. Using chainsaws, rock tools and brute strength we were able to build 21 water bars in only one day. This will go a long way in preventing water flow from eroding the firebreak and help keep sediment out of the streams. At the end of the day, Drew and his wife Emily treated us all to a delicious barbecue. The crew today included: Sandy Cascio and David Webber from the Hudson Nor’westers, Chris Reyling, Erik Garnjost, Bob Ronsini. Bob Chapel, Jeff Raskin, Paul Labounty and Marty Costello from the Long Distance Trails Crew, Drew, Jessie and Ben from the NY Parks department.